If you ask me a question without first reading the
Questions Disclaimer, I WILL NOT answer you!

Answer to the most-asked ATC90 question: Where to find balloon tires:

They don't exist.

There used to be a few on eBay, and the last set I sold went for
nearly $1000. Keep your eyes on eBay, but be prepared to empty your
wallet.

This is the machine that started the whole ATV
revolution. It was the first mass-produced all-terrain vehicle priced under
$1000. We bought our first ATC, a 1973 model, in November of 1972. I was
11 years old! See
Gerard's ATC Page for more
early pictures, including one from 1972, and a corresponding photo from
1997.

I'm on the right, age 16, in the front yard of my father's house in
Salinas, just prior to loading up for a day of riding at Marina Beach in
Monterey Bay. It's 1977 in this photo! The ATC on the left is a 72
model, on the right is a 73 model. The man on the left is Bruno,
the tour guide who took my father and sisters all around Italy in the mid
70's. Notice that the gas tank of the ATC I'm sitting on is the same
as the one used on my ATC shown above.

As a first design, Honda did pretty well. There were some serious shortcomings,
though, especially with the rear axle. On the very earliest ATC 90's, the
design would allow you to break it apart and store it in the trunk of a
mid-sized car. The rear wheels come off, the axle slides out, the footpegs
fold up, and the handlebars unclamp and swivel. The whole thing becomes
just as wide as the front tire, about 18-24 inches. I don't know why Honda
did this. Maybe for markets other than North America, since big pickups
are rare outside North America.

The problem with this design is that the axle splines get corroded and
won't come apart. Since we don't regularly dissasemble these components,
we don't know they are frozen until disaster strikes. The drive chain is
enclosed in a cover, and it can get loose without your knowledge. A loose
chain comes off pretty easy, and trust me, they DO come off. On these engines,
the chain comes very close to the engine case, and when it comes off, it
bunches up inside the engine case and punches big holes in the case. I
think every one of our ATC 90's has a repaired case. We found that welding
is best, but J-B Weld two-part epoxy works well too. The big problem occurs
when you're out riding and the chain comes off inside the cover. If all
the axle splines are frozen, you can't get the axle apart to remove the
cover. Some of our friends had to use cutting torches to remove their axles,
the corrosion was so bad.

So, the best advice I can give anyone with an enclosed chain ATV is
to ditch the cover, and deal with the dirt. It's worth the extra maintenance
you encounter to be able to keep a closer eye on the chain. We also found
that the brakes worked better with the cover removed. This is because moisture
will get inside a cover, no matter what you do to prevent it. If you don't
get the moisture out, the mechanisms will corrode, causing sticky brakes.
If left out in the open, the brakes will air dry after they get wet.

The original rear sprocket size on the ATC 90-110-125 is 49 teeth. Low
range on the two-speed case is too low, and high range is too high. So,
to solve the gearing problem, I put 40-tooth sprockets on the back of my
ATC's. This also keeps the chain out of the dirt, and makes the tensioner
work better, since there is not so much of an angle going back to the engine.
This also makes for shorter chains, which as they stretch, don't need as
much adjustment.
Another problem with the ATC 90 is the multi-piece cushioned rear sprocket.
It consists of a sprocket ring, 4 rubber cushions, and sheet metal retainers
to hold the cushions. After years of abuse, the sheet metal retainers get
bent, and the cushions fall out. Solid sprockets are much more reliable,
and I've not noticed any detriment to the engine's transmission from excess
shock loads.

If you are wondering why I removed the brake handle from the handlebars,
this is the reason: It confused people into thinking the ATC has front
brakes or a clutch. These little machines have rear brakes only, and anytime
I would let someone ride our ATC's, they would think the brake on the handlebar
was for the front brakes or the clutch, and they'd grab it at inopportune
times, such as going up a hill.

ATC 90 Paraphernalia

Jigsaw Puzzle

Woohooo! Check the parking brake...it's on, and her thumb isn't
even on the throttle! I still own this...note the $1.29 price tag!

Plastic Model

I have one of these from the mid-70's. It's assembled, and sitting
on the shelf behind my computer. This is a photo of the box the model
came in. There was an unbuilt one on ebay a while ago that sold for
over $50!

NEWS!Well, ATC 90 fans, it's great news! It appears
that IMS is making a plastic gas tank for the 69-82 ATC 90 and the
83-up ATC 110 and 125! YIPPEE! You can order one from Chaparral Motorsports
at 1-800-841-2960. Cost is $157, but it's a bargain when your old
one leaks like a seive from rust, and constantly clogs up its little gas
filter.